About

Serving Stratford with compassion, commitment, and clinical excellence since 1977.

Stratford Emergency Medical Service (SEMS) provides emergency medical care and transportation for the Town of Stratford, Connecticut, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Established by the Town on December 17, 1977, SEMS is a municipal “third-service” EMS agency—an emergency medical service operating separately from police and fire departments. As Stratford’s primary EMS provider, we deliver both Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) care.

Our People. Our Community.

SEMS brings together paid professionals and dedicated volunteers with a shared purpose: providing quality patient care and safe emergency transportation to people who are sick or injured.

Our team serves a community that stretches from forest to shore, with coastal neighborhoods, wooded areas, major highways, and rail transportation. That diversity shapes our preparation, training, and response.

Whether responding to a medical emergency, supporting a community event, or preparing for a large-scale incident, Stratford EMS remains focused on the people who live, work, and visit here.

A History of Innovation

Stratford EMS has a longstanding commitment to improving emergency care through training, technology, and specialized services. Milestones in that history include:

• 1986: Served as Connecticut’s pilot site for the use of semi-automatic external defibrillators.

• 1987: Established the Special Operations Division to support mass casualty incidents and other complex emergencies.

• 1996: Became New England’s first volunteer paramedic service.

• 1997: Established one of the nation’s early EMS bicycle response units.

• 2005: Named EMS Service of the Year by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.

• 2007: Received the Governor’s Award for EMS.

That commitment continued with the introduction of mobile technology for dispatch information and patient documentation, mechanical chest-compression equipment, and powered stretcher and loading systems designed to support patient and provider safety.

Recognized for Service and Quality

SEMS and its personnel have earned recognition for their contributions to emergency medical care, including the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Silver Award and additional Governor’s Award recognition in 2015.

These honors reflect a continuing commitment to clinical quality, teamwork, and service to the Stratford community.

How We Are Funded

Stratford EMS operates as an enterprise-fund department, supported by revenue generated through billing insurance companies for services provided.

Our Commitment

Our guiding principle remains the same: quality patient care and safe emergency transportation. We continue to build on that foundation through professional development, thoughtful use of technology, and a strong partnership between paid staff and volunteers.